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Overview

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other's arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder-would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won't be the same people who landed on it.

The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.

About the Author

Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner are longtime friends and sometime flatmates who have traveled the world (but not yet the galaxy), covering every continent between them. They are sure outer space is only a matter of time. Meagan, who is also the author of the SKYLARK trilogy, currently lives just outside DC, while Amie lives in Melbourne, Australia. Although they currently live apart, they are united by their love of space opera, road trips, and second breakfasts. You can find them on Twitter at @AmieKaufman and @MeaganSpooner.

Editorial Reviews

12/02/2013On the surface, this trilogy opener is a fairly standard opposites-attract romantic adventure, when a spoiled socialite and a seasoned soldier are stranded on a mysterious planet after their luxury spaceliner malfunctions and crashes. Major Tarver Merendsen tries to protect Lilac LaRoux, "the richest girl in the galaxy," as they journey across an inhospitable wilderness in search of rescue. Though their personalities clash and their social status separates them, they develop feelings for one another. But the further they travel, the more questions they find regarding their new home. Strange visions and apparitions give the story a chilling edge, and a late revelation elevates these developments into entirely new territory. In a collaboration that, at times, evokes Lost, Titanic, and Romancing the Stone, Spooner (Skylark) and newcomer Kaufman do an excellent job of keeping their story from falling into clichéd romantic territory. Although the constant arguing between Tarver and Lilac and their internal angst can be tiring, the external conflicts and underlying mysteries will keep readers guessing (and turning the pages). Ages 12–up. Agent: Adams Literary. (Dec)

Publishers Weekly

Overdone characterizations threaten to overwhelm an exciting outer-space adventure. When the richest girl in the galaxy and a burned-out war hero from lowly beginnings are the only survivors of a spaceship crash that kills 50,000 people, they grudgingly cooperate to survive. Their escape pod lands far from the ship, so Lilac and Tarver trek through cold and rain to reach the main crash site. This unknown planet has been terraformed, but frighteningly, there are no colonists-or anyone else. When they reach it, the ship's a hazardous tomb of rotting bodies. The jam-packed plot incorporates telepathy, energy-matter conversion, an unknown life form, an explosion, two cave-ins and a temporary death. Lilac and Tarver alternate first-person narration; ratcheting up the suspense are single-page chapters in which an unknown authority interrogates Tarver. Less successful is the seemingly endless (and textually forced) clashing between the protagonists. He's bitter and occasionally rough (in the throes of a fever, he hits her); she's an entitled heiress whose pale, white skin warrants mention no matter who's narrating. It's a thin, annoying line between love and hate (guess which wins) that makes the adventure elements vie for attention. Tipping between science fiction and fantasy, this series opener will catch readers who enjoy melodramatic sparring and those who can look past it; for outer-space thrills with moral complexity, see Beth Revis' Across the Universe series. (Science fiction. 13 & up)—Kirkus

When the universe's most luxurious spaceliner mysteriously falls out of hyperspace and crash-lands on an alien planet, sixteen-year-old heiress Lilac LaRoux and eighteen-year-old war hero Tarver Merendson are the sole survivors. Certain that help, or at least a wreckage crew, is on the way, Tarver wants to leave the safety of their escape pod to trek across unknown territory to the crash site of the doomed ship. With the inappropriately dressed but surprisingly resilient Lilac in tow, he starts the journey to find the situation stranger and more dangerous than he expected: the terraformed planet is oddly abandoned, the wreckage is miles away on the other side of a mountain pass, and Lilac is starting to hear voices and hallucinate. Lilac, meanwhile, wants to prove herself more than just a damsel in distress, and she uncovers a shocking secret that might explain her visions, the planet's emptiness, and even the ship's demise. With shades of Titanic alongside bits of Robinson Crusoe, this engaging read offers a compelling survival story and science fiction adventure with a heavy dose of romance. Narration in alternating points of view gives insight into Tarver and Lilac's miscommunications while allowing readers to revel in the slow burn of their growing attraction. At the same time, brief snippets of Tarver's eventual debrief provide evocative hints about the characters' futures but manage not to spoil any of the plot's twists or surprises. As class-line-crossing lovers and deserted-island stories go, no new ground is being broken here, but the novel brings together a strong mix of familiar tropes and popular storylines for a thoroughly entertaining result. Loose ends and unanswered questions, despite an otherwise satisfying conclusion, leave the door open for expected sequels. AM—BCCB

As the passengers and crew of the Icarus cruise through hyperspace, spoiled and aloof rich girl Lilac LaRoux drops a glove before war hero Major Tarver Merendsen only to rebuff him later. Yet during a horrifying accident, Lilac and Tarver escape the death-spiraling Icarus, eventually finding themselves stranded on a strange, terraformed yet abandoned planet. Their prickly relationship continues because both realize they have no future together even if they are rescued: Lilac is the daughter of the universe's richest man, while Tarver is a lowly soldier. As they struggle to save their lives and maintain their sanity, despite disturbing whispers and strange appearances and disappearances of things lost and treasured, the dire circumstances break down the barriers between them. Though Kaufman and Spooner use the pair's survival in an alien environment to propel the narrative, These Broken Stars is at its heart a love story. Voiced in alternate chapters, Lilac and Tarver are characters of depth, complexity, and strength, young people who alternately elicit the reader's admiration, frustration, and sympathy. While the book is the first of a promised trilogy, it stands on its own as a testament to love, loyalty, courage, and the power of good over dystopian greed and perversity. - Frances Bradburn—Booklist

5Q 4P J S Major Tarver Merendsen is a war hero-young, handsome, and just dangerous enough to send all of the rich socialites on board the Icarus into a tizzy. All except one: Lilac Laroux is the only daughter of the richest man in the galaxy, and with her father's guards watching her every move, she cannot afford to let her guard down. If there is one thing she is good at, it is cutting men down to size, especially boys from the lower classes who should know better than to aim for the attentions of the richest girl in the galaxy. When tragedy warrants an emergency evacuation, it is fate that brings the two together. It is too bad that Lilac is the last person with whom Tarver would want to be stuck, but when their escape pod lands on an abandoned planet, curses become blessings as each hardship brings the two closer. As survival instincts kick in and their old life falls away, they build a bond that seems to be able to overcome death itself, but can it survive her father's expectations? Maybe, but her father might be the least of their worries as the secrets of the planet are revealed and soon they know too much. Kaufman and Spooner couple an epic romance with dazzling science fiction in a tale that will appeal to lovers of both genres. This is a must-read, though some sexual situations may be cause for a second glance when considering younger readers.-Shanna Miles.—VOYA

Gr 7 Up First-time author Kaufman and coauthor Spooner begin their science-fiction romance in familiar territory and then chart a course that goes to new heights. Eighteen-year-old Major Tarver Merendsen is a decorated hero traveling on the luxury starliner Icarus. Sixteen-year-old Lilac LaRoux is the daughter of the galaxy's richest man, owner of the Icarus, and terraformer of numerous planets. Everything comes crashing down when an unknown force ejects the starliner from hyperspace and sends them into the gravity well of a planet. Tarver is able to get them aboard an escape pod but it is, surprisingly, Lilac who is able to hotwire the pod's malfunctioning electronics to allow it to blast free of the falling ship. They survive the descent but each feels obligated to treat the other harshly Lilac to shield Tarver from the potential wrath of her father and Tarver to urge the pampered princess to safety. As they come to rely upon one another during their journey across the unfamiliar planet, they can no longer deny their feelings for one another. When Lilac begins hearing whispers and seeing visions, she comes to believe that there is other sentient life on the planet. Then she dies, but neither she nor the story ends there. The authors begin with star-crossed lovers and a crash-landing survival story but add excitingly original material to these tropes to create a wonderful tale that should appeal to both teen and adult readers. Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids—SLJ

On the surface, this trilogy opener is a fairly standard opposites-attract romantic adventure, when a spoiled socialite and a seasoned soldier are stranded on a mysterious planet after their luxury spaceliner malfunctions and crashes. Major Tarver Merendsen tries to protect Lilac LaRoux, "the richest girl in the galaxy," as they journey across an inhospitable wilderness in search of rescue. Though their personalities clash and their social status separates them, they develop feelings for one another. But the further they travel, the more questions they find regarding their new home. Strange visions and apparitions give the story a chilling edge, and a late revelation elevates these developments into entirely new territory. In a collaboration that, at times, evokes Lost, Titanic, and Romancing the Stone, Spooner (Skylark) and newcomer Kaufman do an excellent job of keeping their story from falling into clich d romantic territory. Although the constant arguing between Tarver and Lilac and their internal angst can be tiring, the external conflicts and underlying mysteries will keep readers guessing (and turning the pages). Ages 12 up.—PW

From the Publisher

12/01/2013Gr 7 Up—First-time author Kaufman and coauthor Spooner begin their science-fiction romance in familiar territory and then chart a course that goes to new heights. Eighteen-year-old Major Tarver Merendsen is a decorated hero traveling on the luxury starliner Icarus. Sixteen-year-old Lilac LaRoux is the daughter of the galaxy's richest man, owner of the Icarus, and terraformer of numerous planets. Everything comes crashing down when an unknown force ejects the starliner from hyperspace and sends them into the gravity well of a planet. Tarver is able to get them aboard an escape pod but it is, surprisingly, Lilac who is able to hotwire the pod's malfunctioning electronics to allow it to blast free of the falling ship. They survive the descent but each feels obligated to treat the other harshly—Lilac to shield Tarver from the potential wrath of her father and Tarver to urge the pampered princess to safety. As they come to rely upon one another during their journey across the unfamiliar planet, they can no longer deny their feelings for one another. When Lilac begins hearing whispers and seeing visions, she comes to believe that there is other sentient life on the planet. The authors begin with star-crossed lovers and a crash-landing survival story but add excitingly original material to these tropes to create a wonderful tale that should appeal to both teen and adult readers.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids

School Library Journal

2013-10-01Overdone characterizations threaten to overwhelm an exciting outer-space adventure. When the richest girl in the galaxy and a burned-out war hero from lowly beginnings are the only survivors of a spaceship crash that kills 50,000 people, they grudgingly cooperate to survive. Their escape pod lands far from the ship, so Lilac and Tarver trek through cold and rain to reach the main crash site. This unknown planet has been terraformed, but frighteningly, there are no colonists--or anyone else. When they reach it, the ship's a hazardous tomb of rotting bodies. The jam-packed plot incorporates telepathy, energy-matter conversion, an unknown life form, an explosion, two cave-ins and a temporary death. Lilac and Tarver alternate first-person narration; ratcheting up the suspense are single-page chapters in which an unknown authority interrogates Tarver. Less successful is the seemingly endless (and textually forced) clashing between the protagonists. He's bitter and occasionally rough (in the throes of a fever, he hits her); she's an entitled heiress whose pale, white skin warrants mention no matter who's narrating. It's a thin, annoying line between love and hate (guess which wins) that makes the adventure elements vie for attention. Tipping between science fiction and fantasy, this series opener will catch readers who enjoy melodramatic sparring and those who can look past it; for outer-space thrills with moral complexity, see Beth Revis' Across the Universe series. (Science fiction. 13 & up)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Sometimes it happens that I get bitten by the hype monster. Once in a while the hype monster disappoints (case in point, Veronica Roth&rsquo;s &ldquo;Divergent&rdquo;), but most of the time, it leads me to a book I love so much, I want to shout from the highest mountains for everyone to read it! Yes, my friends, today I want to shout from the mountains that These Broken Stars is the one book you just have to add to the top of your reading list&hellip;like in yesterday already!
The first time I saw this book, I was won over by the gorgeous cover, but the synopsis indicating that this is a love story in space, made me go &ldquo;meh&rdquo;. I&rsquo;m not one for romance, okay? Much less romance in space. But following all my favorite blogs via email, I noticed one after the other five-star review for this book and I thought to myself, &ldquo;you&rsquo;ve got to be kidding me&rdquo;. Then I also thought that if my favorite reviewers enjoy it, it can&rsquo;t be that bad. So I set out to get myself a copy of this much-talked-about book and I jumped right in. And you know what? All those five-star reviews? They were spot-on. I was completely blown away by this romance and now I want you, yes YOU, to read it. No, no, I don&rsquo;t want to hear it. I don&rsquo;t care if you like romance or sci-fi or not. You HAVE to read this book! You&rsquo;ll never be able to tell it was written by two authors on complete opposite sides of the world. Folks, this book is simply phenomenal.
One reviewer compared this book to Titanic. Wait, before you roll your eyes. I&rsquo;ll agree that in some ways it did remind me of the Titanic movie, but it&rsquo;s also a completely original and extraordinary story all on its own. You&rsquo;ll just love Lilac and Tarver! I did.
~The bandages look clean. &ldquo;Did you wrap my hand up?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Mmm. You didn&rsquo;t like it much. You have the foulest mouth I&rsquo;ve ever encountered, Major. I didn&rsquo;t even recognize half the languages you can swear in. I&rsquo;m glad I&rsquo;m not one of your soldiers. Still, it was rather educational.&rdquo;~
Lilac took a while longer to grow on me than Tarver did, but once she showed me what she was made of, this girl turned out to be precisely the type of female lead I wish to see more of in YA and romance novels. She&rsquo;s tough, but gracefully and femininely so.
~Crash-landed on an unknown planet, a black eye on the way, and the contents of her stomach now in the underseat storage locker, and she still feels the need to act like she&rsquo;s above it all.~
At first it was easy to believe that Lilac is a spoilt, na&iuml;ve heiress. But once disaster strikes and the Icarus is headed for certain doom (and I don&rsquo;t say this lightly), we get to see that Lilac is nothing like what we&rsquo;ve seen of her so far. And as the story progresses, so much more of her character is revealed and I liked her more and more. I pretty much fell in love with Tarver right from the start. He&rsquo;s a gentleman and war hero who hasn&rsquo;t let fame gone to his head. Lilac and Tarver are literally from different worlds and different backgrounds, and like Romeo and Juliet they can never be together. But then tragedy strikes and they both end up being the only survivors on an abandoned planet. Or, at least, they think they&rsquo;re the only ones on the planet. So, now you have this spoiled socialite and an experienced soldier - two people who can&rsquo;t stand each other - stranded on a strange planet with only each other for company, and who have to rely on each other for their survival. You can only imagine the laughs that could possibly ensue with the pairing of two such different characters.
~It&rsquo;s only through an exhausting combination of frequent rests and liberal insults that we make it through the next few hours. I could tell myself that I&rsquo;m doing it because she&rsquo;ll get back to her feet just to spite me-but the truth is, I really just want to piss her off.~
After they crash-landed, these two hardly get along. And because this is quite a lengthy read, we get to spend some time with Lilac and Tarver in their quest for survival trying to make it to the fallen Icarus in hopes of finding other survivors. And as the days pass, we get to know them more and more.
~This stupid, arrogant boy. How old is he? He can&rsquo;t be more than a couple of years older than me, yet he acts like he&rsquo;s got a lifetime of experience just because he liberated one tiny outpost once. A one-trick pony with a chest full of medals.~
Layers are being peeled away as Major Merendsen and Ms LaRoux gradually fall in love. And that was the selling point for me: the gradual romance. There were no pages and chapters going on and on about how these two lust after each other or how hot the one thinks the other one is. No. They delve deeper into each others&rsquo; characters, and that&rsquo;s how they eventually fall in love.
But simply a love-story this is not. This is a balanced, superbly plotted, well-rounded tale of survival, discovery, tragedy, compassion, and mystery with a hefty amount of heartwarming feels at its core. It&rsquo;s not just Tarver and Lilac falling in love, but the reader falling for and rooting for these two beautiful, wonderful, far-from-perfect characters. Don&rsquo;t go telling me that sci-fi is not your genre of choice. There is no Star Trek-ish or Scotty-beam-me-up elements in this novel. It&rsquo;s just two people trying to survive in a world somewhat different to our own. And geez, are they put through the mill! For those readers who appreciate a few good twists and a memorable tearjerker, I can assure you there are a couple of mammoth twists and a good gut-wrenching-sobs cry hiding behind this stunning cover. Oh, and another few tears right at the end for good measure.
After finishing These Broken Stars I understood without a smidgen of doubt why others are writing such lengthy gushing reviews for this book. I just feel like going on and on and on about this masterpiece! Honestly, I finished it in one day. I read until my vision blurred and still I couldn&rsquo;t put it down. No mushy romance, no content that needs an age restriction. Just a slow developing breathtaking tale of love and endurance in a time far into the future, but with none of the alien elements that would alienate (see what I did there?) non sci-fi readers such as myself from reading this amazing book. Just do me a favor&hellip;no, do yourself a favor and add These Broken Stars to your reading list asap!

jenababy13

More than 1 year ago

It&rsquo;s hard to get past the absolutely stunning cover, believe me I know. The cover of These Broken Stars is all kinds of perfect with it&rsquo;s absolutely stunning starry background, beautiful red headed girl in a dress that I&rsquo;m sure every girl is envious of, and of course the deliciously handsome boy she&rsquo;s reaching towards. Once you look past that and dive into this sci-fi-tastic story, it is nothing less than a gripping adventure. I absolutely loved it.
Science fiction has always been one of my favorite genres. I'm really not sure why because science has never been my subject, but I think I just adore the ideas of space, and medicine, and anything else that goes along with sci-fi. I loved how Amie Kaufman &amp; Meagan Spooner weave sci-fi and supernatural, it makes for a perfect combo.
Alternating viewpoints is something I have always loved in a book as well, and in These Broken Stars, not only is it needed, but it done flawlessly. I absolutely loved being inside both of our characters heads, of course some parts we&rsquo;re harder than others. We meet Major Tarver Merendsen first and he is every bit delicious as a male lead can be. He&rsquo;s a war hero, tall, built, dark hair and eyes and as Lilac notices, can fill a suit perfectly. He just proves over and over how much of an all-american-boy-self-sacrificing thing he's got going on.
With Lilac LaRoux, I absolutely loved seeing her character change and grow. From the first time we meet her, you can tell she's a tough chick and not exactly happy with the world she's in. I loved watching her change through out the journey, showing her tech savvy side, her strength, and at the end her throw-back-in-your-face attitude. Her and Tarver together I just absolutely loved.
There were so many parts of this story that I just adored, parts where I got nervous, parts where my heart was melting, and one moment that almost broke my heart. If you enjoy sci-fi, dangerous and romantic journeys, or solving mysteries... You'll love this book. They say to never judge a book by it's cover, but I'm judging this one because I think the story inside is just as great as it's cover.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I was telling someone the other day that I have been mainly reading YA books for the last year---especially fantasy. That it was mainly because I found adult Sci-fi fantasy had gone a bit stale, with every story line seeming to be the same thing over and over again, and with the same tired tropes. The same can be said about most genres. We kind of repeat the same story over and over again for everything, but it is how you tell it. Adult Fantasy ad hit a rut in how it told it. But I have found that a lot of YA books these days tend to break out of that. There are all kinds of interesting new ways that they are telling the same story. This book was a good demonstration of that. It had all the old tropes:
1. Poor little rich girl
2. Poor low class boy in love with her
3. Evil daddy who thinks no one is good enough for his baby girl
4. Star-crossed love
But then they threw in the interesting things.
1. Lilac is a very good/strong female character. People seems to think being strong means the girl never has to be scared; always has to be bad ass and never needs any help, much less from a man! But, no...being strong could mean knowing when you are in over your head and asking for help. Having the mental strength to survive in the harshest environments and never giving up...even if sometimes you cry and need to sit and gather yourself for a minute...you get back up and you go on. Being strong, is being confident in your abilities and not letting anyone dismiss them or you when it counts. Lilac is all of those things, so I found her a very food female character, even though she cries about her dresses and shoes...she shows up when it counts. And based on her action on the planet, I fully bought why Tarver would like her, and would be impressed by her. To me the hero of this book is Lilac, not Tarver, even though we spend more time in his head. She figures out how to get them unattached from that falling ship and away; she figures out how to send a distress signal out; she learns how to open the door; she saves Tarver time and again. And she did it again in the end with her father. I was very impressed by her.
2. There was no damn love triangle. And the romance was believable. I totally bought it.....since we spend the whole book building their relationship piece by piece. The only time I was annoyed was when Lilac kept insisting on dying on that planet and sacrificing herself for Tarver. I'm glad he was stubborn and despite what he says...he is very smart. He proved himself in the end.
3. It was all set in a Sci Fi setting. I loved the slow build of the mysterious planet and why it was abandoned, as well as the final reveal of what resided on that planet and its link to Lilac. I loved the quick glimpses of the world they lived in: The separation of the lower classes from the elite. The corporation and their total ownership of the planets---as well how the system is made to benefit them in every way. It will be interesting to see more of the world in further books. Based on this I would say....I look forward to reading more from this author
Romance A+
Story: A
Science: B+ (I always get confused with all the science mumbo jumbo jargon at some point.)
Pretty good.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I honestly had my doubts about this book...i watch Doctor Who and Supernatrual so i LOVE si-fy...this book makes u want to just keep on reading and never stop the second i finished i went and got the next book. I hope that tge series just doesnt ever stop...this book is well writen and if u r considering buying this book...no hesitation buy it,this book is worth it. I love thinking about what is out in the universe and this book just brought me to a place where i could be myself.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This will easily be one of my favorite books from this point on. The book is amazing, the authors masterfully crafted a survival love story that was beautiful, but never sickeningly so. It was also suspenseful, tear jerking, frustrating, and exciting. The way they combined all of these elements made a huge impact. My only complaint? The sequel is not about them and I desperately want more Lilac and Tarver.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I loved the characters in this book and how they developed so well with the story. I'll admit there was some twist and turns that I DID NOT SEE COMING but it was worth the read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Thank you to the authors for writing what I'd classify as a perfect story with a beginning, middle and satisfying ending. This syfy setting will appeal to lovers of survival, romance and adventure. The book begins with the destruction of a spaceliner carrying 50,000 citizens including the richest young girl in the universe. Her life is saved by a young officer and they crash land stranded and alone on an uninhabitated planet in uncharted space. He is born from a lower class...she is from the privileged few. Sparks fly and emotions flare in this dangerous situation where class no longer matters when it comes to survival. I found the story pulled me into another world where I stayed until the book was finished. These writers are skilled and I look forward to reading more of their books. Hats off to you both...I feel like I truely finished a satisfying meal...including desert. Jp

pagese

More than 1 year ago

My initial thoughts when I saw this book made me think of Across the Universe. I'm not big on space and sci-fi, so I wasn't sure I wanted to read this one. So I kind of forgot about. I took a second look after a few positive reviews came in and decided maybe it might be something I would like. I'm glad I did because this turned out to be one of the better books I read in 2013!
Lilac and Tarver are about as different as can be. I liked them both immensely. I think that I might not have liked Lilac if we only had Tarver's point of view. She comes across exactly how one might think the daughter of the richest man in the universe would. But in all honesty she's behaving how society and the world expects her to behave. Deep down she's smart and wants to be recognized for something other that her father. Tarver is young and being recognized for a military feet that most soldiers never obtain. But, he's still a little green when it comes to how to behave with upper society. When you throw these two together on a deserted planet, you can bet sparks are going to fly.
I admired how Lilac tries to keep up with Tarver. She doesn't want to be the rich girl in a gown and high heels traipsing through unfamiliar terrain. She wants Traver to see her as she sees herself. Throughout their journey to the wreckage of the Icarus and then to an abandoned outpost building, she proves herself over and over again. She's more than just her daddy's girl. Tarver was harder for me to pin down. He's all business. It's been trained into him and he doesn't seem to have time for the girly and snobbery that he believes radiate off of Lilac.
There's more than enough actions to go along with the romance in this story. There's the voices only Lilac can hear. Is she going crazy? Or is there truly something on this seemingly deserted planet. Tarver ends up in a delirious and semi-conscious state that Lilac has to figure out how to nurse him out of. And what exactly is behind the locked door at the outpost building? The biggest shocker of them all happens here. I really could not believe that it did. I was ready to put the book down at that point.
I ended up being completely impressed with this book. With how the events unfolded, I have no idea were this story can go next. I wonder how Lilac and Tarver proceed?

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I can not believe how good this book is, I tore through the pages. If I could I wouldve given it all the stars in the world. I love watching the characters change, this book did contain romance but too much, just the right amount. Do yourself a favor and read this book. IT IS AMAZING! EVEN IF YOU DONT LIKE ROMANCE OR SY-FY READ THIS BOOK.....please, you will not regret it. And I am pretty positve that there will be a second and a third maybe even forth book to follow! AHHH! I LOVE IT!

Sarah_UK1

More than 1 year ago

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Disney Book Group and Netgalley.)
Tarver is a decorated soldier and a war hero. Lilac is daughter of one of the most powerful men in the universe.
They meet on board the Icarus &ndash; a giant spaceship capable of holding 50,000 passengers, but not capable of going through a planet&rsquo;s atmosphere. The Icarus is a space-dwelling vehicle only, made by Lilac&rsquo;s father&rsquo;s company.
When the Icarus is unexpectedly pulled out of hyperspace, everybody heads to the escape pods, only for the escape pods to not launch due to a surge or electricity. Suddenly the Icarus is crashing, and the odds of survival are low.
Lilac and Tarver survive due to both of their quick thinking, but now they&rsquo;re the only living inhabitants of a partly-terraformed planet, and it seems that rescue is not on the way.
Can Lilac and Tarver find a way to survive? Can they find a way to signal help? And can they find a way to live with each other in the mean time?
I don&rsquo;t think I have ever read anything quite like this, and I really enjoyed it!
Lilac was an interesting character in that even though most would have thought that she lived a charmed life, she had suffered at the hands of her father, and had had to find ways to live with the things she knew. She did come across as a little spoiled at times, and had a bit of a diva attitude at times as well, but was actually remarkably able to adapt to the difficult circumstances she found herself in, and really showed what she was like on the inside rather than the outside.
Tarver was also an interesting character. Firstly because he pushed Lilac to be better, and secondly because he never lost hope that that was possible. He took a difficult situation and somehow made them survive, which was nothing short of remarkable.
I liked the storyline in this book. It was just so unique, and the mysteries and surprises just kept coming and coming. This was not your average dystopian, or survival story, and at times I really didn&rsquo;t want to put this down.
The pace in this one was quite slow, and the middle did drag a little bit. This didn&rsquo;t last long though, and the mysteries were enough to keep me interested, and keep me wanting to read. I liked the mysteries, I liked the romance, I liked the suspense and I even liked the occasional creepy moment. This book seemed to have a bit of everything, and I even found myself crying at one particularly sad moment, which very rarely happens to me! So glad I wasn&rsquo;t on the bus at the 75% mark or I think I would have got some really funny looks!
The ending of this was also surprising, and I liked the way we got snippets of Tarver being questioned at the end of each chapter, so we knew that they would eventually find their way home.
If this book reminded me of anything, I&rsquo;d suggest it reminded me of the TV show &lsquo;Lost&rsquo;, with the unexplainable happenings and the inability to know what would happen next. I thought the whole thing was really nicely done though, and it will be interesting to see what the second story in the series has in store.
Overall; a truly unique and enjoyable sci-fi/dystopian/mystery story, with a touch of romance.
9 out of 10.

Anonymous

6 months ago

Every time I thought I knew what was behind the situation in which Tarver and Lilac found themselves, something happened to make me second-guess my solution. Well plotted, great characters, with some hair-raising twists.

onemused

9 months ago

"These Broken Stars" is an interesting YA sci-fi that follows two young people after a space shuttle crash. Lilac LeRoux is practically royalty. Her father owns a high-profile corporation and her life has been sheltered- she is covered in pretty dresses and has lots of nice things, but she knows that her future will be political. Her marriage will only be used to advance her father's company. Tarver is from a poor family and a military veteran. When the space shuttle crashes on a seemingly abandoned planet, they must fight to survive. As they traverse the planet in hopes of rescue, they discover there are more sinister secrets hiding there.
The story is told from Lilac and Tarver's point-of-views, along with some conversations between Tarver and someone questioning him about the time after the crash. As they fight for survival and answers, they grow closer to each other and a romance blooms. Partly sci-fi, partly romance, and partly thriller, this book captured my attention from the get-go, and I really loved following Tarver and Lilac's journey.
This book will definitely be a hit amongst YA romance fans, and I found it really entertaining and page-turning. I listened to the audiobook, and I highly recommend it- the voices are well done and the telling is fantastic!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This book exceeded my expectations. I went in expecting the typical tale of survival and the fluffy romance typical of the star-crossed lover trope, but I was pleasantly surprised with the twists and turns and unique details of the planet where Tarver and Lilac land. Also, I enjoyed how it switched between the POVs of Lilac and Tarver, giving different insights to the events of the novel. Theses Broken Stars, was an easy, enjoyable read.

JuliW

More than 1 year ago

Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen are both passengers on the Icarus, a ship whisking through the universe through hyperspace. But they are from totally different worlds. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the world. Tarver is a soldier, a war hero recognized for his bravery. They are drawn to each other at first sight, but Lilac knows her father would never approve and Tarver knows she is out of his league entirely. But an emergency will bring these two together in a way neither one ever expected. And their lives will never be the same.
These Broken Stars is the first book in the Starbound series. At first, I had a hard time liking Lilac. She came off as a spoiled brat, but over time I came to understand the character better. Both main characters changed and matured over the course of the story, learning to support each other and pull together to survive, while also learning about love and respect.
This isn't normally the type of book I read. YA books with a romance angle usually come off as immature for me. But that's because they aren't written for 50 year old grandmas. :) But, I love science fiction, so I gave this book a try. And, I really enjoyed it. The relationship between the two main characters didn't come off as teenager-y or immature. I found myself really hoping that they would have a chance at a happy ending....that they would make it through the danger. Very enjoyable book! I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series! I love it when I read something that I wouldn't normally read, and end up totally immersed in an awesome story!
Amie Kaufman and Meaghan Spooner have both authored multiple YA books. I love the Illuminae series that Kaufman co-authored with Jay Kristoff. That's what led me to try this series she co-authored with Meaghan Spooner. I haven't read anything by Spooner yet, but definitely will after enjoying this book.

WhatsBeyondForks

More than 1 year ago

I thought the characters were built nicely. I felt like I got to know them as they got to know each other which was fun. The same can be said for the world they crashed on. As the reader, I was right there with them trying to figure this odd place out.
My only issue came towards the end. It had to do with something that happened to Lilac. I'm very unclear on what exactly that was that happened to her. It's something pretty pivotal, and really needed some kind of explanation. This bothers me so much, it tainted my overall enjoyment of the book. Because of the lack of clarity, I'm not sure what kind of ending I would consider this to be or if I even like it at all. Yet.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

These broken stars was an amazing and aluring story about a future where people could go into hyperspace and things like kinetic energy powered guns existed. I was strongly reminded of the titanic when the icarus crashed but the big difference was that there were far less survivors and way more casualties. Lilac and Tarver begin their slow and dangerous journey across an abandoned planet. As ancient secrets unravel, the two survivors slowly realize what had happened on the planet and why the icarus fell.When I found out the reason why, I was both horrified and enthralled. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you desprrate for the next book in the Starbound trilogy.

soterianyx

More than 1 year ago

I did some light research before diving into this book--as it is the first in a loosely connected trilogy and I am one of those readers who just can’t abandon a series, I wanted to prepare myself to read the sequels. And what a delight! Within the first few chapters, I was easily hooked into the story. At first glance, the story may seem a bit superficial, but it is anything but simple. The universe is well sculpted--we have an advanced view of society and culture off the first page--and our characters are well-rounded and pretty fleshed out right off the bat. Though the plot follows a Titanic-esque theme, it shed the prolonged suffering and overall despair early and concentrated on Lilac and Tarver’s journey, both physically and emotionally; plus, with no one but each other for several hundred pages or so, let’s just say there’s plenty of room for development. Yes, there’s romance, but Kaufman and Spooner so delicately weave in intense action, suspense, and definitely flirt with the thriller end of horror as well.
Our heroine, Lilac, is headstrong and proud, yet she cares for the people in her life in her own peculiar way, especially since her overprotective father has a way of removing potential threats, be they small or large. She may be the galaxy’s princess, but that doesn’t mean she can’t stand up for herself or argue her way to what she wants. When the universe throws her a massive curveball, she (gradually) accepts it with poise, grace, and a determined attitude I definitely did not expect her to portray--something I was overjoyed to find, especially since I can only take so much of overly whiny and bratty heroines (sorry, Meira). On the other hand, Tarver is almost exactly how I pictured him to be: cynical and sarcastic, but still grateful and perceptive of his place in society. He’s a soldier who really only knows how to be just that, so when Lilac comes barreling her way toward him, he has to learn how to soften up and trust her, since that’s the only way both of them are getting out of this debacle alive.
Writing style is an integral component of whether I decide to pick up a book or not; it’s usually what makes or breaks my final decision. THESE BROKEN STARS completely blew away my expectations for a young adult novel, particularly because the writing is sophisticated for any adult, yet simple enough for a middle school student to enjoy. Though the story is told in Lilac and Tarver’s alternating POVs, their voices are dissimilar enough that it is easy to distinguish who is speaking, even if you open to a random page; both are engaging and charming in their own ways.
While the story, characters, and the blend of genres this book offers is unusually coherent, one of the things I noticed was the lack of consistency of ideas. Without giving anything away, I will note that ideas would be introduced in an early chapter, then resolved relatively quickly, without many repercussions, thought, or even mentions in later chapters--kind of like a random laundry list of things that would make the story a little more intense...with no follow up. However, this absolutely does not detract from the story as a whole, and probably makes it more appealing to a younger audience; keeping track of too many branching plot lines gets tiring quickly.
An enticing mix of genres, lovable characters that are perfectly relatable, and a driving plot propelled this book to the top of my “Favorites list," where it will probably stay.

Haya-at-The-YA-Bookaholic

More than 1 year ago

From The YA Bookaholic (theyabookaholic.wordpress.com)
Book Review: These Broken Stars
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman &Meagan Spooner
Rating: 4.5 stars
I bet you've heard a lot of good things about this book, and I'm here to tell you that they're all TRUE!
This book was SO GOOD. I could not put it down, which (sadly) doesn't happen too often. It was one of those books, were you really want to finish it but at the same time you never want it to end.
These Broken Stars is a sci-fi dystopia set in space, usually something I immediately love or hate. (LOVED LOVED LOVED IT)
I liked Lilac, she was strong for someone in her position, and she was human, with a personality and everything.She was not perfect, she had flaws, and she made mistakes. I hate how most female heroines nowadays seem to be pretty much carbon copies of each other. It's so refreshing to actually see one that's not like all the rest. I didn't like her all that much in the beginning, but she turned out to be so much more than the posh, delicate princess she started out as. Lilac was her own person, unique and lovable (at least later on in the story). I enjoyed reading from her perspective.
“Lilac Rose LaRoux. Untouchable. Toxic. I should've been named Ivy, or Foxglove, or Belladonna.”
I really liked Tarver. If I had to be stranded on a deserted planet with someone, I'd definitely choose Tarver. He was snarky yet charming, and loyal to a fault. His warmth and his sense of humor would have made him a very amiable companion (in my opinion at least). He stuck around to help Lilac, which I probably wouldn't do after what she said to him.
“Abandon her? If only my duty or my conscience would let me. The galaxy would be better off, if you ask me. Who’d even know we were in the same pod? Except that I would know. And that would be enough.”
The storyline was really interesting and I was soooo hooked. I found the whole idea kind of intriguing and I definitely can't wait to the next book. Amie Kaufman is truly a genius! Her writing is so beautiful, brimming with colorful, vibrant words. The interrogation pieces gave me vibes from Illuminae, while the romance was perfect for fans of Under the Never Sky (two of my absolute favorite books).
“For a moment the image before us is frozen: our world, our lives, reduced to a handful broken stars half lost in uncharted space. Then it's gone, the view swallowed by the hyperspace winds streaming past, blue-green auroras wiping the after-images away.
Basically, this book rocks. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a delicious read!
YOU MUST READ IT NOW!! Shoo, what are you waiting for! Your new favorite book awaits!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

anythingnovel

More than 1 year ago

I found These Broken Stars to be an okay book. I was definitely entertained but I wasn’t especially invested in these characters or the plot. I think if the plot about the corruption that exists in Lilac and Tarver’s society had been given a little bit more attention I would have found this book more interesting. However, it felt more like something that was just tacked on the end of the novel or mentioned vaguely sporadically and wasn’t really enough to make me want to continue with this series.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This is one of my favorites I have a hard time finding series that have everything I want in it. I love romance but not so much that I want it to be all roses and Daisy's. I want a real relationship and a strong female charter not one that needs to be saved or taken care of one that can stand on her own if she needs to. This series has all of that.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I am not generally a science fiction fan, but a survival love story set in space? For me, "These Broken Stars" by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Tarver Merendsen is a decorated war hero from humble origins, thrust into a spotlight he doesn't want. Lilac LaRoux is already used to the spotlight, but as the daughter of the richest man in the universe, she hasn't had to work for anything in her life. When the luxury space liner they're traveling on crash lands on a foreign planet, Tarver and Lilac must rely on each other if they're going to get home alive.
Can I gush about the character development before I get to the romance? Because it was grand. I don't care that there are only two characters in almost the entire story. Doesn't matter. When you can read a whole novel almost entirely devoted to the same couple and still be disappointed that book two doesn't focus on them some more, you're looking at good writing. Both protagonists were so clearly influenced by their histories, even after they'd been separated from everything they knew. And though I may be in the minority here, I respected the decision not to add in too many random other people throughout the book. Much more realistic given the survival story premise.
The take on alien races within "These Broken Stars" was another thing I loved. Aliens is only an appropriate term here because this group is foreign and other to Tarver and Lilac, but I still appreciated that neither side was an aggressor. There isn't much I can say without risking spoilers, but I thought the conflict between what these aliens wanted and how they had to get it was refreshingly handled.
And, because I can't--read, don't want to--skip the romance, let me just say I loved that too. This is definitely a slow burn sort of book, but dear God, the ending. I read the last 75-100 pages with my heart in my throat. As a final teaser, I'll also say that the last chapter made me want to cheer. Sadly, day jobs tend to frown on hollering, fist-pumping employees.
If you like your sci-fi light but well-developed, give "These Broken Stars" a read. Different characters or not, I know I'm eager for the sequel.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This could be the next "Hunger Games" series a long with "The Throne of Glass" novels.

Andrea17

More than 1 year ago

It only two me two days - two days! - to listen to the audio book of These Broken Stars. I could not get enough of this story!
Lilac and Tarver are traveling through space on Icarus (because man's hubris knows no bounds) - Lilac is the daughter of an exceptionally wealthy merchant and Tarver a Major in the military and a war hero. Through a varying set of circumstances they escape Icarus together and crash land on a nearby planet. Tarver realizes the planet have been terraformed and they begin their trek to find civilization and rescue. But of course that's easier said than done.
I love the relationship between Lilac and Tarver. While there was attraction aboard Icarus, the two do not become the best of friends upon impact. Lilac may have been the one to get their pod detached from Icarus before she went down, but Tarver is the one who will get them through the barren wasteland to find help. They are constantly goading each other and it makes for rather enjoyable narration. Lilac's goading is to get under Tarver's skin, but Tarver pushes her button to get her fighting to survive.
The character develop is above and beyond. Lilac starts as the spoiled rich girl trapped in her life (Hi, Rose!), but quickly learns to fend for herself and become a stronger and determined character. She goes from waiting for Daddy to save her to saving herself and Tarver from certain death. While Tarver, a boy from poor family who will never be worthy of someone of Lilac's status (Hi, Jack!), doesn't have as big a development as Lilac but slowly learns there is more to Lilac then pretty dresses and fancy shoes.
Amie and Meagan are amazing writers and I was never able to tell which of the two were writing which scenes. They're detailed in their descriptions, lyrical and beautiful in their prose, and in-depth with their characters. Another thing I really enjoyed is that I was never bored with two characters. We spend 99% of the story with Lilac and Tarver, no one else. It's easy to imagine how an 11 hour 15 minute book with only two characters can be long and drawn out, but the fact that I wanted to remain with only Lilac and Tarver speaks volumes for how well these women write.
The audio book was well done as well, relying on Cynthia Holloway for Lilac, Johnathan McClain for Tarver, and Sarge Anton for Tarver's interrogator. These three did an amazing job embodying their characters and conveying their emotions and inflections correctly. Johnathan has such a strong and compelling voice that I could absolutely get lost in his voice. I probably listened to the last chapter (which he narrated) a few times over because the combination of Johnathan's voice and Amie / Meagan's words are spot on.
This is a series you need in your life - I know I'm upset at myself for being late to the party - and I cannot wait to get my hands on This Shattered World and Their Fractured Light.

lilacqueen75

More than 1 year ago

The story begins with a very Titanic feel to it. I never would've thought of a luxury ship in space, but that's exactly where this ship is. Lilac is rich and spoiled and Tarver is a young war hero. Together, they escape the doomed ship and end up stranded alone on a foreign, deserted planet, where they must make a journey for help.
Lilac is a great character, although I didn't like her at first. She does what she has to do to keep her father's reputation where he wants it to be. When she is forced to stand on her own, her many facets really come to life and we get to know who she really is and to see her great courage and strength.
Tarver. He's cynical and good-looking, but he does whatever he can to survive and to help Lilac do the same. He's a good compliment to Lilac and is able to turn on the military mode in an instant, which helps them out. I really liked his character and his drive, especially when his shell is cracked and we get to see the real Tarver.
There were many strange things that happened that had me curious, confused, and eager to learn what was going on. There is so much creativity placed in the events and it was fascinating to see it all unfold, especially the twists. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more about this place.
Content: moderate language (a few words used a lot, especially at the beginning); moderate romance (kissing, implied intimate relationship--no details); moderate violence (deaths especially).

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